The secret donors behind the millions in 'dark money' fuelling WA politics (4 Jan 2023)
In Western Australia (WA), the political landscape is increasingly influenced by "dark money," a term referring to undisclosed financial contributions worth millions of dollars.
This phenomenon is highlighted in a detailed investigation by ABC News, which reveals the extent to which political parties, including WA Labor and the Liberal Party, benefit from significant sums of money whose sources remain largely hidden due to legal loopholes. The report underscores that 75% of the $6.7 million received by WA Labor and more than half of the $4.7 million received by the Liberal Party in the 2022-23 financial year were not declared in terms of their origins.
Central to the discussion is Kate Chaney, the Federal Member for Curtin, who expresses particular concern over donations from industries associated with social harm, such as gambling, tobacco, and alcohol. Chaney criticises the influence these sectors exert on political decision-making, arguing that their financial contributions to political parties undermine public confidence in the implementation of reforms aimed at mitigating social harm.
Specifically, she points to the $27,500 spent by Responsible Wagering Australia on Labor's roundtable fund, questioning the ethical implications of accepting money from entities that profit from gambling, a significant source of social distress.
Chaney's stance reflects a broader concern about the integrity of political funding and the need for transparency to ensure that policy decisions are made in the public interest rather than being swayed by the financial clout of private interests. Her comments highlight the urgent need for reform in political donation laws to ban contributions from industries that cause social harm, thereby restoring community trust in the political process.
This call for change is part of a larger debate on the influence of "dark money" in politics, with new laws passed to close existing loopholes and require more timely disclosure of political donations, although these reforms are yet to take effect.
